Porn sites to have strict access checks added for all UK users from next month
Age verification enforced on UK porn sites next month
- Ofcom has mandated that all porn websites operating in the UK must implement "highly effective" age verification measures by 25 July to protect children online.
- Major adult content providers, including Pornhub, have agreed to these new requirements, which also extend to social media, search, and gaming services hosting adult material.
- Non-compliant services face severe penalties, including substantial fines or being made unavailable in the UK through a court order.
- Age verification methods can include credit card checks, open banking, or facial age estimation, with platforms also needing to ensure adult privacy is not compromised.
- The move follows Ofcom research showing 8 per cent of 8-14 year olds in the UK visited online porn in a month, with charities welcoming the measures but urging robust enforcement.